14 h. ago Tuipulotu believes ‘stars have aligned’ for him as Lions arrive in Melbourne

The Scotland centre has the opportunity to seal a series win against Australia with victory in the second Test in the city where he was bornSione Tuipulotu has to raise his game this week. By his own admission he has not been up to scratch. He has been surprised by just how off the pace he has been, but he is confident he will deliver in the buildup to the second Test between the British & Irish Lions and Australia.Tuipulotu is, of course, referring to his role as the Lions’ tour guide, having grown up in Australia, as Andy Farrell’s players arrive in his home city of Melbourne hoping to wrap up the series. “I haven’t actually been that good at it,” he says. “It’s surprising, I don’t actually know that much about Australia having lived here that long. I know a bit about Melbourne so I’ll point the boys to some good spots.” Continue reading...

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35 h. ago ‘The Lions built this club’: watching the first Test at Ballymena RFC, home of Lions legends

The Northern Irish club that produced Willie John McBride and Syd Millar is steeped in the history of the Lions even if it has no players in the 2025 squadAn hour before kick-off, and I’m beginning to wonder if watching the first Test at Ballymena RFC was such a bright idea. It’s only me and the girl working the bar, and she doesn’t have a strong opinion on whether or not Tom Curry should be playing No 7. “Which paper did you say you were with, the Ballymena Guardian?” No, it’s the other Guardian, I say. “Oh, the Antrim one.”Just about the time I was beginning to think that all of Ballymena’s thousand-or-so members must have been among the tens of thousands going the other way into Portrush for the Open, they began to trickle in, one, two, three, four dozen, and more. Continue reading...

Society

41 h. ago Australia v Lions live: Tom Curry overpowers the Wallabies as tourists make perfect start to series

The Lions have never lost in Brisbane and they notched another victory in the first Test of the 2025 series

Society

41 h. ago Lions lay down series marker and ease to victory over Australia in first Test

First Test: Australia 19-27 British & Irish LionsOne-sided opener only came alive in the second halfWinning the first Test does not guarantee a series victory but Australia are already hanging on by their fingernails. On the evidence of this contest it is going to take something remarkable to stop the Lions from finishing the job in Melbourne next Saturday and, with thousands of travelling fans cheering them on, Andy Farrell’s side have firm control of their own destiny.There were moments in the first half when the Lions were so dominant it felt akin to watching a juggernaut thundering through the outback, scattering everything in sight like skittles. They were unable to sustain it but the visitors’ dominance in the opening 50 minutes was such that the winning margin should have been wider. From Finn Russell’s insouciant brilliance to Tom Curry’s relentless tackling, the Lions were a cut above in the areas that mattered most. Continue reading...

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41 h. ago Australia v Lions live: Tom Curry masterclass gives tourists control of first Test in Brisbane

The Lions have never lost in Brisbane – can they notch another victory in the first Test of the 2025 series?

Society

42 h. ago Tour de France 2025: stage 14 sets blockbuster mountain test in Pyrenees – live

Updates from 182km ride, Pau to Luchon-SuperbagnèresStage-by-stage guide | And you can drop Luke a mailWe approach the départ réel, the reality of a heavy day in the saddle dawns. Here we go!In Pau, the rain is coming down but that’s cooled the temperature down to 19 degrees. Continue reading...

Society

42 h. ago Australia v Lions live: Latest score as tourists make dream start to first Test showdown in Brisbane

The Lions have never lost in Brisbane – and are already on course for another victory in the first Test of the 2025 series

Society

58 h. ago Lions desperate for fast start in Test that will set the tone for Australia series

Talk is of a possible clean sweep for tourists but the onus is on Australia to make one or two Lions eat their confident wordsWhatever unfolds over the next three Saturdays this British & Irish Lions series will resonate more than its predecessor. Simply to see visiting fans in red jerseys wandering down Queen Street in central Brisbane is to be thankful the whole enterprise has a beating heart once again, in contrast to South Africa four years ago when a Covid-disrupted, spectator-free experience sapped everyone’s spirits.Because a Lions tour is nothing without a human element, enticed back every four years by the fabled steepness of the challenge. “This is our Everest, boys,” growled Jim Telfer back in 1997 and, as usual, the master coach was right. On only three occasions in the past 50 years has a Lions squad returned home triumphant and, for now, a series win remains the holy grail for the professional egg chasers of England, Ireland, Scotland and, if selected, Wa...

Politics

60 h. ago 7 best IPL devices 2025, tested by a beauty editor for effective hair removal

I’ve tested a range of devices on legs, underarms and more

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60 h. ago Your Guardian sport weekend: Tour de France, the Open and Women’s Euro 2025

The first Lions Test, a golf major at Royal Portrush, a Euro 2025 quarter-final and heavyweight boxing are just some of our offerings this weekend Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump requests release of Epstein grand jury transcripts amid report of ‘bawdy’ birthday note

President directs Pam Bondi to seek release of testimony from sex-trafficking case and threatens to sue Wall Street JournalDonald Trump said on Thursday he had directed his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking case as he sought to tamp down controversy over a story that he allegedly contributed a sketch of a naked woman to Epstein’s 50th birthday album.The president said on Truth Social he had authorized the justice department to seek the public release of the materials, which are under seal, citing “the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago These are the 11 best eyeliners I’ve tried as a beauty editor

Whether you like a subtle smudged wing or precise feline flick, these are the formulas for your make-up bag

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3 d. ago I'm a beauty editor, and this is the one big mascara swap I recommend making for summer

Mascara's version of quiet luxury means a pivotal switch for 2025

Politics

5 d. ago Electric Archer lights up India classic to justify Test return for England

Fast bowler displayed all the attributes which set him apart from others to deliver optimism for rest of series and Ashes The electric return of Jofra Archer in England’s tight victory against India at Lord’s set straight a couple of narratives that arose during his four-year absence from Test cricket. It is often said that a player’s stock can rise when they are sat on the sidelines – yet sometimes, in some quarters, the reverse can also be true.Chief among them was a reminder that England possess a special fast bowling talent here, Archer displaying the attributes that set him apart from others. As the man himself confidently put it regarding the 89.6mph beauty to Rishabh Pant that angled in, nipped away and gave the snappers the stumplosion they craved: “I guess it was just a matter of when, if I kept bowling like that. I can’t imagine many left-handers getting away with it.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago I live by the sea, and these are the best beach towels I’ve tested for 2025

Whether you’re in Barbados or Brighton, these top-rated beach towels have you covered

Society

5 d. ago 10 best toddler learning towers for 2025, tried and tested by parents

Prepping food, washing up, and brushing teeth are all within reach for little ones, thanks to these towers

Politics

5 d. ago The Breakdown | Five areas where the Australia v Lions Test series will be won and lost

Selection, discipline, kicking, aerial dominance and individual brilliance will all be key in the next few weeksSelection It may sound obvious but both sides need their key chess pieces to be in the correct places. Neither team are due to declare their hands officially until Thursday but the Lions will be well aware of Joe Schmidt’s ability to produce a tactical surprise or two. The big name to look out from an Australian perspective will be Rob Valetini, such an important cog in the Wallaby pack but injured for the recent Fiji game. If Valetini is ruled out it will be a blow to home morale; the Wallabies are going to need their main men on the field. The Lions have had their own injury problems but their back-row and centre selections will be instructive. They will be tempted to start with their most physical flanker, Tom Curry, and send out Ben Earl and/or Henry Pollock to up the tempo later. But Jac Morgan, the only Welshman left in the squad and a specialist jackler, would offer...

Politics

5 d. ago Lions face new injury blow with Mack Hansen expected to miss first Australia Test

Wing in doubt after missing training due to a foot issueAndy Farrell has privately picked side to face Wallabies on SaturdayThe Ireland wing Mack Hansen is expected to miss out on a place in the British & Irish Lions’ team for the first Test against the Wallabies on Saturday with a foot injury. Hansen’s setback comes with the fullback Blair Kinghorn also poised to miss out after both skipped training on Tuesday.The Lions have not yet officially ruled Hansen or Kinghorn out of contention to face Australia in Brisbane, but coach Andy Farrell has already privately picked his side for Saturday and given neither player was able to train on Tuesday it seems unlikely that either will feature. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Additional 800 children to be tested for STIs as police investigate accused Melbourne childcare paedophile Joshua Dale Brown

Four more childcare centres added to list of Brown’s workplaces and additional employment dates added for 10 other centresFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than 800 additional children are being recommended for testing for sexually transmitted infections after four more childcare centres were added to a list of known workplaces of alleged paedophile Joshua Dale Brown.More dates have also been added for 10 other childcare centres, with police citing incomplete records from the providers for the discrepancies.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news emailKids Academy Waratah Estate in Mickleham on 29 August 2024Milestones Early Learning Tarneit on 10 September 2024 and 13 September 2024Milestones Early Learning Braybrook on 4 December 2024 and 6 December 2024Milestones Early Learning Greensborough on 5 December 2024, 31 January 2025 and 27 February 2025 Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Brutal Mitchell Starc spell one to remember amid Australia batters’ tour to forget | Geoff Lemon

The left-arm fast bowler claimed a record-breaking six-wicket haul in the third Test against the West Indies to celebrate his milestone match in styleModern sport reporting casually reaches for words like “brutality” and “carnage” where their usage even as metaphor is overblown. The end of the third Test in Kingston, though, warranted both. Australia’s fast bowlers destroyed West Indies for 27, a single run higher than the lowest innings score in Test history.The batting lasted 14.3 overs, the third-shortest innings on record. Mitchell Starc, curling the pink Dukes ball, took 6 for 9. Scott Boland’s 3 for 2 came in the form of a hat-trick. It was a sporting annihilation, the lowest West Indies total ever by 20 runs, worse than any time during the struggles of their earliest years or their recent decades. Australia swept the series 3-0. Continue reading...

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